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Marshmallows are launched into the audience. Children are encouraged to dance on stage when appropriate. Giant inflatable golf balls are thrown around for additional interaction.
The latest production to take the stage at the Independence Events Center is hardly a typical outing to the theater. A week from Saturday, one of TV’s most popular animated series will come to life in 15 musical numbers that are billed as friendly for all ages.
“Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best Tour Ever!” is a touring stage musical version of the Disney Channel’s award-winning show “Phineas and Ferb.” Phineas (pronounced fin-EE-us) Flynn and his English stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher, are always on summer vacation, with each day taking them on a new set of challenges. Their sister, Candace, tries to spoil it all, and in a separate plot, Agent P (also known as Perry the Platypus) fights Dr. Doofenshmirtz, the show’s evil, mad scientist.
Now in its third season, new episodes of the show will continue through at least 2014, and a feature film is planned to hit theaters in summer 2013.
For 22-year-old Ohio native Tiffany Westfall, the “Phineas and Ferb” tour is the opportunity for a starring role as Agent P. Westfall previously toured with Disney Live! (also produced by Feld Entertainment) for four years as a backup dancer.
“He’s the superhero in the show, and so it’s exciting to be able to portray a hero,” Westfall said by telephone Thursday. The “Phineas and Ferb” tour is in Denver this weekend. “It’s exciting playing the action hero, because everyone always loves the hero.”
With 15 musical numbers in each show, including an original song written just for the tour, actors like Westfall must perform stunts and flips while in costume. The Independence Events Center bill on Feb. 11 includes three performances at 1 and 4 p.m. and the recently added 7 p.m. show.
“It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s exciting because it keeps me on my toes,” Westfall said. “It makes the show fun for me because I know it’s not an easy show and that I have to be on my game at all times. It’s kind of like a rock concert for the family.”
And Westfall isn’t joking about the family aspect. She invited her then infant nephew to a show and said he “was mesmerized by all of the lights and music. Even though he was a baby, you could tell he was having a good time.”
Marshmallows are launched into the audience. Children are encouraged to dance on stage when appropriate. Giant inflatable golf balls are thrown around for additional interaction.
The latest production to take the stage at the Independence Events Center is hardly a typical outing to the theater. A week from Saturday, one of TV’s most popular animated series will come to life in 15 musical numbers that are billed as friendly for all ages.
“Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best Tour Ever!” is a touring stage musical version of the Disney Channel’s award-winning show “Phineas and Ferb.” Phineas (pronounced fin-EE-us) Flynn and his English stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher, are always on summer vacation, with each day taking them on a new set of challenges. Their sister, Candace, tries to spoil it all, and in a separate plot, Agent P (also known as Perry the Platypus) fights Dr. Doofenshmirtz, the show’s evil, mad scientist.
Now in its third season, new episodes of the show will continue through at least 2014, and a feature film is planned to hit theaters in summer 2013.
For 22-year-old Ohio native Tiffany Westfall, the “Phineas and Ferb” tour is the opportunity for a starring role as Agent P. Westfall previously toured with Disney Live! (also produced by Feld Entertainment) for four years as a backup dancer.
“He’s the superhero in the show, and so it’s exciting to be able to portray a hero,” Westfall said by telephone Thursday. The “Phineas and Ferb” tour is in Denver this weekend. “It’s exciting playing the action hero, because everyone always loves the hero.”
With 15 musical numbers in each show, including an original song written just for the tour, actors like Westfall must perform stunts and flips while in costume. The Independence Events Center bill on Feb. 11 includes three performances at 1 and 4 p.m. and the recently added 7 p.m. show.
“It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s exciting because it keeps me on my toes,” Westfall said. “It makes the show fun for me because I know it’s not an easy show and that I have to be on my game at all times. It’s kind of like a rock concert for the family.”
And Westfall isn’t joking about the family aspect. She invited her then infant nephew to a show and said he “was mesmerized by all of the lights and music. Even though he was a baby, you could tell he was having a good time.”
Her 16-year-old sister and 78-year-old grandfather also joined Westfall on stage for one dance number.
“It’s an exciting show for everyone in the family,” Westfall said. “I know that everyone thinks that Disney is just for kids, but there is humor in the show that is written for adults too, but the kids just chuckle along. If you don’t have children, that’s OK – come anyway. There’s something in it for everyone.”
Westfall’s co-star, New England native Bartley Mullin, also has a background with Feld Entertainment. Mullin, 24, was part of the Playhouse Disney Live! Tour in 2009-2010 before he took a year off to attend college and study theater.
After missing life on the road, Mullin said, he auditioned for a role with “Phineas and Ferb” and was cast as Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
“The great thing about playing Dr. Doofenshmirtz is that he is a villain,” Mullin said, also in a telephone interview from Denver. “That’s intriguing to play because obviously in everyday life, you’re not going to play the villain. It’s great getting to step out of reality to create that character. He just wants attention, really.”
Portraying a Disney role, Mullin said, is all about listening to the reactions of audience members and families and understanding that they are experiencing Disney characters in their hometowns as an alternative to traveling to often-expensive theme parks.
Like Westfall, Mullin has had his grandparents and younger cousins alike attend his performances. Older audience members tend to appreciate the humor that “Phineas and Ferb” offers, while the children enjoy the bright lights and costumes.
“Everyone who comes enjoys the show,” Mullin said, “but each one has a different experience.”
